Follower support for use in filing trays



' Jan. 9, 1923.

1,441,465 A. L. WELHAM.

FOLLOWER SUPPORT FOR uss IN Fume TRAYS.

FILED SEPT- 23, 1921." 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,465

A. L. WELHAM. FQLLOWER SUPPORT FOR use m FlLiNG TRAYS.

FILED SEPT. 23. 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 9, 1923.

"ALFREDL'. WELHAM, or BENTONHARIBOR, Mronreniw.

FOLLOWER SUPPORT FOR USE IN FILING TRAYS.

Application filed September 23, 1921. Serial No. 502,715.

To an whom izfmay conce m Be it known that I, ALFRED L. IVELHAM,

a'citizen of the United States, residing at. Benton Harbor, county of Berrien, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Follower Supports for Use in Filing Trays, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to an improved follower support for use in filing trays, particu larly filing trays for use in machine bookkeeping.

The main object of the invention is to provide an. improved follower support which can be handled very readily and which automatically locks in the desired or required position.

Objects relating to details and economies of construction'and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. A structure which is a preferred embodiment of the invention is fully'illustrated in r the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a detail perspective view of a book-keepers tray like that in which my improved follower is used.

Fig. II is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. I, showing the relation of the follower and the follower support, certain positions being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. III is a plan view of the tray portion thereof with the cover removed.

Fig. IV is a detail transverse sectiona view on line 4-4. of Fig. III, showing details of construction.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figs. III and VI, showing details of the automatic lock means.

Fig. VI is a detail view partially in section with parts broken away, showing the said lock taken on line 66 of Figs. III, IV and V. r

In the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing bytheir numbers, 1 is a filing cabinet. '2 is the cover therefor. 3 is the hinged end leaf support' 1 is the. follower plate having the offset bottom leaf support 5', the same being disposed upon the usual retain- 1 I L- I ing rod 6. Corrugated strips 7, '4 are disposed in the botto m of the tray to engage the edges'of sheets disposed therein and pre vent their slumping down." a

These structures are ofany usual or desired construction and may be of any desired form, as my invention does not pertain particularly to them.

'The' follower support 8 side longitudinal guide ribs 9 which it embraces by suitable lugs 10. The guide ribs 9 havea'n' overhanging downturned portion' 11 which engages and retains the locking dog 12 of the follower which is pivoted at 13 to the slide portion 14 of the said follower support 8. The follower support 8 has a rearwardly and downturned flange portion 15. Back of the follower support is disposed the slide 16 having a rearwardly flanged portion 17 at its upper edge disposed within the flanged portion of the follower support.

This slide 16 has rearwardly turned ears 18 at each end which engage inwardly projecting pins 19 on the locking dogs, and the slide, by its weight, assists in throwing the dogs into engagement with the ribs 9. The dog 12 is suitably toothed at 12 for such engagement.

The follower plate 4 is retained by the retaining rod 6. The operator, by grasping the follower 8 by placing the hand on the upper portion and gripping the rearis carried upon;

ward projection 17 of the slide 16, lifts the dogs 12 out of engagement permitting the follower to be adjusted freely to any desired position and at the same time insuring its gripping its guide as soon as the hand releases the comparatively heavy slide which at once drops and throws the dog automatically into engagement.

On the forward movement for clamping the contents of the tray it is only necessary to push the follower support in that I direction, as the dogs act like pawls at each side. I

I have described my improvedv follower support precisely asI make it and wish to claim the same specifically and also broadly as pointed out in the appended claims. I have shown the same as a sheet metalconstruction, but clearly the same principle could be made use of in other relations and in other styles of structures. I

Having thus described my inventlon,

what I claim as new, and'desire to securev by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a follower support structure, the

' combination with a tray, longitudinal side ing position without any manipulation of the look, as specified.

2. In a follower supportv structure, the combination wlth a tray, longitudinal side guide ribs for supporting the follower support with embracing flange, a follower support with slide portions at the lower edge adapted to said guide ribs, pivoted dogs disposed upon the said slide portion with teeth on their lower edges for engaging the said side ribs and with rearwardly projecting arms, a movable part connected to the rearwardly projecting arms of said dogs for manipulating the same when the support is to be withdrawn.

3. In a follower support structure, the combination with a tray, longitudinal side guide ribs for supporting the followersupport with embracing flange, a follower support with slide portions at the lower edge adapted to said guide ribs, pivoted dogs disposed upon the said slide portion with teeth on their lower edges for engaging the said side rib as specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of a witness.

ALFRED L. VVELHAM. [1 s] Witness;

WVILLIAM A. GLEW. 

